Collapsible shelved cabinet



June 10, 1941.

F. w. MANLEY 2,244,887

COLLAPSIBLE SHELYED CABINET 1 1m; Sept. 25, 1940 Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE SHELVED CABINET Frederick W.-Manley, St. Augustine, Fla.

Application September 25, 1940, Serial No. 358,345

Claims.

My invention relates to shelves and more particularly to a collapsible shelved cabinet, of the character used for the storage of personal articles, clothing and the like.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide an improved collapsible cabinet adapted for use with tents or other temporary housing facilities designed for military units. Considerable difiiculty has heretofore been experienced by the individual officers and men assigned to a tent or other temporary housing, in storing their personal effects in a manner to afford easy accessibility thereto and at the same time protect the articles from exposure to dampness, dust and the like.

While regulation storage units in the form of barrack bags, lockers and packs are suitable for transportation of the individuals personal effects, these units are not satisfactory for use in temporary quarters because of limitation of space and inaccessibility of the frequently used articles stored therein.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved collapsible cabinet adapted for use with tents or other temporary housing facilities of the character used by military units. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved collapsible cabinet having a plurality of shelves and auxiliary storage compartments associated therewith.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible shelved cabinet having improved support means whereby the cabinet can be attached to a tent pole or other support member.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible cabinet arrangement wherein the stored articles are suitably covered so as not to expose them to View and to afford protection against dampness, dust and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a portable shelved cabinet structure which can be quickly and easily collapsed and folded into a small compact unit.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible shelved cabinet having improved means for rigidly supporting the shelves of the cabinet structure in the extended or operative position.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements, comprising my invention maybe varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a collapsible shelved cabinet mounted upon a tent pole or other vertical support; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the improved means for attaching the cabinet to its support member.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, the cabinet comprises a back wall I, side walls 2, and a plurality of superimposed shelf members 3, positioned between the side walls. The back wall I, is of rectangular shape, having a top portion 4 and a bottom portion 5 extending respectively above and below the shelves. Side walls 2, may be formed integral with the back wall or they may be formed from separate pieces of fabric attached to the side edges of the back wall, as by stitching. It will be noted that the side portions are of rectangular shape having triangular shaped portions 6, which form with the upper portion of the back wall a compartment designated'generally by numeral 1, the triangular portions also serving as means to support the side walls to which the shelves are attached.

Each of the shelf members 3 is attached to the back wall by a line of stitching 8 and the side and front edges 9 and I0 thereof are provided With pockets ll and 12, adapted to receive rigid insert members I3 and I4, whereby the individual shelves are maintained in a substantially flat position adapted to sup-port articles which may be placed thereon. It will be understood that any suitable means may be used for supporting the shelves in the horizontal position. For example. a short piece of rope, tape or the like may be threaded through the side members 2, at spaced points and tied to the front vertices of the shelf members. As here shown, rope members I5 are threaded through the openings between the rigid insert members l3 and M at the front vertices of the shelves. The upper and lower ends of the ropes l5 are knotted as at It and I1 and the intermediate shelves may be attached to the ropes by tapes, rings or the like.

In order to protect the clothing or other articles which may be stored on the shelves from dust and dampness, as well as to shield them from view, a suitable closure for the shelved portion of the .cabinet is provided. The closure means comprise a pair of flaps l8, which may be formed integral with the side members or they may be in the form of separate pieces attached to the front edges of the side members. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the flaps 18 are attached to the ropes 55, used to support the shelves. The edges of the flaps are perforated at spaced points and they are provided with rings I9 or other clips attached for engagement with the ropes. By means of this arrangement the naps are hinged for free movement between the opened and closed positions.

As heretofore indicated, the cabinet of the present invention is designed particularly for use with tents or other temporary housing facilities for military units. In order to properly support the cabinets in the operative position and minimize'or prevent rotative movement or swaying with respect to its support, I have provided improved attaching means for holding the cabinet in a substantially fixed position with respect to its support.

Referring to Fig. 2, the means used for attaohing and stabilizing the cabinet comprise a rigid member 23 adapted for insertion into a pocket 2i, formed in the back wall I, in the vicinity of the lowermost shelf. The ends of the rigid member extend beyond the edges of the back wall and have pivotally attached thereto a pair of arms 22, the free ends of which are adapted for insertion into an eyelet 23, formed on the peripheral surface of a ring member 24, which encircles the tent pole 25 or other vertical support to which the cabinet is attached. The ring member 24 is designed to fit the exterior configuration of a tent pole. As here shown, it is of hexagonal shape and certain of its sides 26 are provided with apertures through which screws 21 or other fastening device contact with the poles. the form of a fiat strip of metal and it is also provided with an opening to receive screw 28 adapted to thread into the pole or other support.

The cabinet is adapted to be suspended from a tent pole or the like, by means of loop Zfi attached to the upper edge of the back wall and arranged for engagement with a hook 3i! carried by the pole. The top and bottom edges of the back wall are suitably reinforced as at 3! and 32 and they may be provided with insert members to further increase the rigidity of the cabinet structure. In order to hold the flaps [8 in the open position, so that easy access may be had to the shelves, suitable fasteners 33 (Fig. 2) are arranged for engagement with the pivotal arms 22. The upper compartment 1 is provided with a pocket arrangement 34 which may be divided into a plurality of sections 35 designed for the reception of toilet articles or the like and the central section may be provided with a mirror 36. The compartment at the bottom of the cabinet, that is to say, the portion of the back wall below the lowermost shelf is also provided with a section 31, designed for the storage of clothing, shoes and other bulky articles.

It will be understood that the cabinet of the present invention is formed from fabric, for eX- a-mple, canvas or other stout material, and that it can be collapsed and rolled up into a com- The rigid insert piece 20 may be in paratively small compact unit. Suitable straps 38 adapted to thread through loops, not. shown, attached to upper part of the back wall, are provided so that the cabinet can be securely held in position and carried by the handle members. The insert members may be of metal, wood or other suitable material. The present invention also comprehends the use of suitable snap fasteners or other devices to maintain the various sections of the compartments in closed position, including a hookless type of fastener for the flaps which form the closure for the shelved portion of the cabinet.

It will be understood that in the manufacture of the cabinet, the fabric may be cut so that the back wall, side pieces and the portions forming the sections in the upper and lower compartments are in one piece. The shelf members may also be formed with two separate pieces of material stitched along one side and two edges to provide a pocket for the reception of a flat board or other rigid member. The inner surfaces of the side walls may also be provided with small pockets or loops adapted to receive hook members attached to the front edges of the shelves to support the same in horizontal position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible cabinet formed from fabric, comprising a back wall having side walls attached thereto, a plurality of superimposed shelves positioned between the side walls, each of said shelves being attached along one side to the back wall and having pockets formed in its unattached front and side portions adapted to receive rigid insert members, insert members in said pocket portions, means to support the shelves in spaced relation between the side walls, means to suspend the cabinet from a tent pole and means to prevent relative movement of the cabinet with respect to the pole, comprising a ring member adapted to encircle the tent pole and having an eyelet formed on its peripheral surface, a rigid insert member disposed within a pocket formed in the back wall of the cabinet, said member extending beyond the edges of the wall and having an arm attached to each end thereof, the ends of said arms being formed with hook portions seated in the eyelet formed in the ring.

2. A collapsible shelved cabinet formed from fabric comprising a back wall having side walls attached thereto, an extension flap formed on each side wall, said flaps being adapted to fold inwardly and form a cover for the shelved portion of the cabinet, a plurality of superimposed shelves positioned between the side walls, each of said shelves being attached along one side to the back wall and having pockets formed in its unattached front and side portions adapted to receive rigid insert members, insert members in said pocket portions, means to support the shelves in spaced relation between the side walls, means to suspend the cabinet from a tent pole and means to prevent relative movement of the cabinet with respect to the pole, comprising a ring member adapted to encircle the tent pole and having an eyelet formed on its peripheral surface, a rigid insert member disposed within a pocket formed in the back wall of the cabinet, said member extending beyond the edges of the wall and having an arm attached to each end thereof, the ends of said arms being formed with hook portions seated in the eyelet formed in the ring.

3. A collapsible cabinet formed from fabric, comprising a back wall having side walls attached thereto, a plurality of superimposed shelves positioned between the side walls, each of said shelves being attached along one side to the back wall, means to support the shelves in spaced relation between the side walls, means to suspend the cabinet from a tent pole comprising a. loop member attached to the upper end of the back wall and means to prevent relative movement of the cabinet with respect to the pole comprising a ring member adapted to encircle the pole, said ring being provided with an eyelet on its peripheral surface, a rigid insert member disposed within a pocket formed in the back wall of the cabinet, said member extending beyond the edges of the wall and having an arm pivoted to each end thereof, the ends of said arms being formed with hook portions seated in the eyelet formed in the ring.

4. A collapsible cabinet formed from fabric, comprising a back wall having side walls attached thereto, a plurality of superimposed shelves positioned between the side walls, each of said shelves being attached along one side to the back wall and having pockets formed in its unattached front and side portions adapted to receive rigid insert members, insert members in said pocket portions, means to support the shelves in spaced relation between the side walls, means to suspend the cabinet from a tent pole and means to prevent relative movement of the cabinet with respect to the pole, comprising a ring member adapted to encircle the pole, said ring being formed with an eyelet on its peripheral surface, a rigid insert member disposed within a pocket formed in the back wall of the cabinet, said member extending beyond the edges of the wall and having an arm pivoted to each end thereof the ends of said arms being formed with hook portions seated in the eyelet formed in the ring.

5. A collapsible shelved cabinet formed from fabric comprising a back wall having side walls attached thereto, an extension flap formed on each side wall, said flaps being adapted to fold inwardly and form a cover for the shelved portion of the cabinet, a plurality of superimposed shelves positioned between the side walls, each of said shelves being attached along one side to the back wall and having pockets formed in its unattached front and side portions adapted to receive rigid insert members, insert members in said pocket portions, means to support the shelves in spaced relation between the side walls, means to suspend the cabinet from a tent pole comprising a loop attached to the upper end of the back wall and means to prevent relative movement of the cabinet with respect to the pole comprising a ring member adapted to encircle the tent pole, said ring being formed with an eyelet on its peripheral surface, a rigid insert member disposed within a pocket formed in the back wall of the cabinet, said member extending beyond the edges of the wall and having an arm pivoted to each end thereof, the ends of said arms being formed with hook portions seated in the eyelet formed in the ring.

FREDERICK W. MANLEY. 

